Sewer construction



H. J. CATHHOE. SEWER CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION F1151) APR. 23. 1911.

I1,367,51 1, Patented Feb. 1,1921.

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alterna H. l. CATHEOEn SEWER CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED APH. 23. |917. 1,367,51 1 Patented Feb. 1,1921.

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@Mommy HAROLD J. CATHROE, 0F OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

SEWER CONSTRUCTIQN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

iatented Feb. 1, llfli.

Application filed April 23, 19W. Serial No. 164,075.

To all fw hom 'it 'may concern Be it known that l, llanera) J. Garrison, a citizen of the United States7 and a resident of @malla7 in the countjY of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Sewer Construction7 of which the following is a specification.

.My invention relates to the construction of sewers or like tubular conduits, and particularly to structures of this class fornied .from hollow blocks or tiles laid together with joints or bonds of plastic inaterial such as cement between thein. It is the object of my invention to provide a structure of this class in which plastic bonding material is securely retained in the joint-spaces between the blocks, so as not to be liable to displacement therefrom after completion of the structure; to provide blocks or units of such forni that in the assemblee structure each of the saine may have a direct bearing or engagement at all sides with the adjacent blocks or units gto provide blocks of such forni that the saine may be first placed in assembled relation and the plastic bonding material. afterward placed in the joint-spaces between theni; to provide means for confining the bonding material or cement adjoining' the hollow or open end-portions of the blocks; and to provide in structures of this class certain other advantageous features which will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

In the acoinpanying drawings, Figure l is a transverse sectional. view of a structure embodying roy invention Fig. f2 is a side view of the saine. Figs. 3 and il are detail longitudinal sections thereof on the lines 3-3 and elf-fl? respectively, of Fig. l, Fig. 5 is a transverse section of a modified forni of the structure, Fig. 6 is a side view of the same. and Figs. l and tl are detail longitudiual sections on the respective planes of the lines 7-7 and 8-8 of Fig. 5.

In carrying out my invention the sewer or conduit is constructed of tiles or blocks which are preferably of uniform size tlnoughout the structure, and in. that enilnodiinentof the invention shown in Figs. l to Ll. inclusive. allv of the blocks are of identical. forni. Each of said blocks has an inner wall 97 an outer wall l0 and an intermediate wall il, all curved transversely of the block, and extending concentrically to a common axis. A web or plate l2, extending radially of said axis, connects the central portions of the curved walls 97 l() and ll. The outer side-portions of each block, adjoining the lateral edges of the wall l0, are formed by fiat portions 13 which are substantially radial to the axis of curvature of the walls. The inner side-portions le. and l5, adjoining the lateral edges of the wall 9, are semi-cyli ndrical in forniL1 being concave and convex respectively, so that the concave portion le; of one block fornis a seat or bearing for the convex portion l5 of the adjoining block. The surfaces of tl e seat-portions l-lf and l5 are of lilie curvature and are adapted to fit together without leaving a space between thern for bonding material. Preferably at the juncture of the concave portion 14 and the inner wall 9 there is a convex rounded portion 16 which is adapted to klit in a concave seat 17 provided at the juncture of the parts 9 and l5 of the adjoining block. The lateral portions of the bloc is are so proportioned that when the parts 14,15, 1G and 1T of two blocks are fitted together the flat sideportions i3 are spaced or held apart to forni a, space or recess between theni for receiving plastic bonding material lil, such as cement'- inortar. The end-surfaces of the blocks are beveled or inclined to the axis of the conduit, parts of said end-surfaces being adapted to iit directly together without having bonding material between thern7 and other parts beingspaced to receive bonding material l9, as shown in Figs. 3V and The spaced portions of the end-surfaces are prefw erably provided by offsettingI -or shouldering one end of each block, as by cutting back or shortening the outer wall l0, the side-portions 13 and the outer portion of the centerweb l2, so that the end-surfaces thereof are inv a plane parallel with the end-surfaces of the full-length portions formed by the inner wall 9, the intermediate wall 1l, and the connetting` radial parts between said inner and intermediate walls. For preventing the bonding material i9 iiowing intothe longitudinal openings or passages through the blocks, said material is partially confined by sheets or strips 29 of thin loosely-woven :fill

The method o'f asseincline' i i or those blocks forming the lower portici.

the sewer or conduit diilers soineifhat i om the method olf assembling; the upper hall' o.' arch ther/eci'. Ordinarily, the

is assei'nbled in a suici ble trench or erica ration, of which the bottoni is rounded to the adius of the ,serian-ovali thus providinga formed suo the lower hallY ot the structure. .in `sf l' j said lower portieri the structure i votudinal row ot the blocks is lairL at or Ynear the center of the bottom ot the trenchT and the bouding material if? is introduced between the successive blocks oit he row as they` are laid7 being` effected as liollows: 'terri to 4, and assuming` the bloei: fi to be in position and the block about to be placed, e suitable quant-it)7 oi the cement or other bonding` material is inclosed in the 'fabric strip il() by placing; the cement upon a part oi the ifaln'i and folding); another purt tliereo't over the plastic mass, the saine then bein raid against the inclined en l.-iace ot the lock at the lower isrt thereof, with the ede'es ot the 'fabric 2O extending above the end o the intermediate wall il. The shouldere@` ond ci? the second block B is then placed against the first, so that the edges et the Yfabric are held between the ends ot the walls ll while the isbric-conlined nlasie material .fills the space provided the or b5' t ret l the shoulder of the block l. brif` nslij, the plastic material may 'ulee out somewhat into the ends of the longitudinal openings through thebloclzs? but this unobjectionable since the bulging` is so limited b3v the fabric as to prevent waste oi" the bonding material, while the slight bulge serves Vto securely loclr the blocks together :ritter 'the cement has hardened. iter laying the first row of the blocks, as describe-fh honding material is distributed along the lower side-poroions 18 oi said blocks in su'iicient quantities to lill the 'joint-spaces between the same and the succeeding' rows of blocks7 which are then laid and their cnd-joints bonded as before. Preferably the successive rows of blocks are placed so as to break jointsg that is, so that the ends oi the blocks ot one r w are opposite the centers of the blocks of the adjoining rows.

After the assembling; of the lower portion ot the structure, as describech able form or centering irch is arrai position to sn ort the ueber heli o' l .a

of the conduit while the same is being assembled. ln the construction ot said arch or upper portion of the structure ani7 number of the blocks mayy be laid together in proper position and the bonding material subsequently placed in the joint-spaces be tween the upper edge-portions thereofj it being` apparent that the open edges ot said joint-spaces are exposed and accessible, and that the plastic bondingT inater'zil maj.Y be flowed thereinto so as to perfectly till and seal the joints. lieto 'ring to Fig. B il; will be seen that the ribrfe strips 2O may be laid. into the end lioint-spaces. the edges of the strips turicd out over the upper surfaces oithe bloc is, and the material i9 poured into the pocket torined by tli e tabric. the latter proventingthe plastic material flowing into the longitudinal openings ot the blocks more than to iorn i slight b'ilpie at esch side. .lifter having filled the joint spaces and alloii'ed a suiiicient tine ier the cen'ient to set, the centerr rtiup;

is remover us' ln the modified term ot the structure shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive. the upper half or arch thereof is constructed iu the same manner as that first describoih the blocks being` ot identical ,torni and arrangement. rllhe blocks ot the lower portion ot the structure are ot such iornu however. that the ope i joint-spaces are at the inner or upper sides thereot instead op" beine' at the outer or lower sides theix in first instance. Thus the fiat side-poitiers i3() adjacent to the inner wal i0. t concave and convex Vseat-portiors le() 'and 150, end the secondary seat'portions 160 am i7() are adjacent to the outer curved will 100, and the end jointspaces are 'formed by shorteningr the inner wall OO and the ad- Iiacent radial portions extending` out to the intermediate wall llll. it the sides or flanks of the conduit there are rows ol blocks C of which the upper sides are formed to correspond with the blocks oi the arch, while the lower sides are formed to correspond with the bloelis or the trough oibottom-portion of the scructure. It will he seen that the plastic bondingY material NSO and i90 may be placed in the join-:spaces after the blocks here been laid in place. in substantially the L:une manner as 'tor iluK upper portion or arch oit t1 ie conduit.

in the construction ot sewers troni tileblocks oit the iornis h` etoifore used.` it luis been attempted to preiy .de a layer et bonding material e ending` tl ri iugliout between i des oi! the bh, rllhis can onlj,y with considei ole diiliculty. particularly1 when ing` clocks et the top or die irch, where it becomes necessary to r C 1f Y between them, during which a part oi the cement is scraped oli", resulting in loose and imperfectly bonded joints at the top of the arch which is the most vital-portion ot the structure. lt is found in practice that the inner or loiver edges of the jointsare particularly liable to be detective, and that any attempt to plaster or point up the joints trom the lower side of the arch is not only7 expensive but is usually inetl'ective, since the material plastered into the joints soon i'alls out. Even Where the plastered material Well united with the other bonding material, acid fumes and the like developed from the sewage soon cause the material to become loose so that it will crumble and tall out ot the joint.

'in the structure provided by my invention it will be seen that these difficulties and dis` advantages are avoided. The contiguous sides oi the blocks all have a direct bearing upon each other.J the bonding material is not exposed to the action ot the sewage, and said bonding material cannot possibly be displaced from the joint-spaces at'ter the structure is completed and covered over with earth. As the joint-spaces of the arch, or ol' thc entire structure in the modified form thereof, are iilled with the bonding material subsequent to the laying ot the blocks, the spaces being such that the material may be readily placed therein, there is no probability oi? the joints being ineiiiciently bonded, and the strength and permanence of the structure are assured.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim and desire-to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. in a structure oil? the class described, a. Wall comprising a plurality ot blocks cach having its edge portions adjacent to one tace ot the Wall seated directly against the corresponding edge portions ott the adjacent blocks and provided with coacting interlocking portions adapted to permit the blocks to be assembled in a structure prior to the application oi the bonding material, the lateral extent of the directly seated. edge portions being substantially one-halt the thickness ot the Wall and forming a hinge joint located at one side of the center of the edges of the blocksu the remaining portions oit the blocks being spaced apart to provide a joint-space 'tor receiving bonding material. said joint-space extending` to the lace of the wall opposite that adjoining the directly seated. edge portions of the blocks,

and the Width of said j oint-spacc at said 'face ot thc Wall being not less than its Width in any plane parallel With said face.

in a struc-ture ol the class described, a wall comprising a, plurality oi adjoining longitudinal rows ot blocks, the end and side portions of each block adjacent to one tace of the Wall directly and continuously engaging the contiguous blocks, said directly engaged portions of the `blocks having a lateral extent oif substantially onehalf the thickness ot' the Wall and having interlocking and engaging portions forming a hinge joint at one side of the center of the edges ot the blocks and adapted to hold the remaining side portions of the blocks in definitely spaced relation to each other whereby to form spaces for the reception of bonding` material and said spaces extending to that tace or' the wall opposite the directly engaged portions of the blocks and being not less in width at the face of the Wall than at any other part thereof.

3. ln a structure of the class described, a Wall comprising a plurality of blocks disposed edge to edge, said edges directly and continuously contacting with each other from one face of the Wall to a plane intermediate ot the Wall faces, said directly contacting edges ot the blocks having interlocking engaging and holding portions forming hinge joints at one side of the center of the edges of the blocks and holding in definitely spaced relation to each other, the edge portions irom said intermediate plane to the face of the Wall opposite that iirst mentioned, the space between said spaced edge portions having a slight taper inward and bonding material iilling only the spaces between the last mentioned edge portions of the blocks, the coacting interlocking portions permitting the assembling of the blocks in a structure prior to the application ot the bonding material.

d. A sewer block comprising spaced, concentric cylindro-curvilinear Walls and radially extending connecting side portions, said connecting side portions having concave and convex longitudinally extending bearing or seat portions adjoining one olsaid Walls, said bearing or seat p0rtions having identical contoured surfaces whereby to directly and continuously engage the sido portions ot like blocks and permit the blocks to be assembled in a seiver construction prior to the application ot bonding material. said bearing or seat portions torming a hinge joint at one side of lV the center oi the edges ot the blocks, and the remaining parts ot said side portions being plane surfaces and maintained at substanially uniform spaces 'from the corre spoingling parts olf' like blocks engaged by said side portions.

A block for use in arch-portions of sewer ivalls comprising inner and outer cylindro-curvilinear Walls, concaved and conrezed longitudinally extending interlocking bearing or seat portions at the sides of the blocks adjoining` the lateral edges of the inner Walls, said seat portions having identical contoured surfaces adapting the same to directly and continuously engage the seat Apoitione of like blocks, said seat portions extending from the innei| Wall outwei'dlj)T to :i plane intermediate the Same and the outer well and forming hinge joints at one side of the center of the edges of the blocks and, side portions substantially I'aclial to the axis of curvature Of the Wells and extending from the outer edges of the seat portions to the outei1 WzL-ll, said side poitions beingV Contact.

H. J. CATHROE. 

